Cylinder for paper pattern indicated dobbies



Dec. 15, 1942. TURNER Y 2,305,329

CYLINDER FOR PAPER PATTERN INDICATED DOBBIES .Filed' Jan. 1'7, 1942 I NVEN "row. 7 'Rmzn Fuzz-.5 e-TURNE'R;

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Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PTENTQF CYLINDER FOR PAPER PATTERN INDI-' CATED DOBBIES Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles-Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 17, 1942, Serial No. 427,122

9 Claims. (o1. 139-330) This invention relates to dobby mechanisms more particularly of the type employing paper patterns and it is the general object of the invention to provide an improved feed cylinder to cooperate with paper patterns of different widths.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 402,080 I have set forth a dobby in which a paper pattern passes between the lifter wires of the dobby hooks and pattern reading plungers. In the weaving of certain classes of fabrics it is necessary to employ a large number of harness frames requiring a wide pattern sheet, but the weaving of other fabrics can be accomplished with a smaller number of harness frames, in which case it is desirable to use a narrower pattern sheet. It is an important object of my invention to provide a pattern feed cylinder of variable length to accommodate sheet patterns of different widths. This feature of my invention contemplates a pattern cylinder made of several parts which can be spaced along the pattern cylinder shaft to support the flexible pattern sheet at a number of different points across its width.

In order to feed the pattern sheet to pattern reading position the sheet has the margins thereof provided with perforations to receive driving pins or the like at the ends of the feeding cylin- It is a further object of my present invention to provide a cylinder having end elements adapted for feeding the paper together with intermediate elements which support the paper and maintain the same in a parti-cylindrical form during the feeding operation.

It is desirable that the pattern sheet be supported at uniformly spaced intervals across its width and it is a further object of my present invention to provide a cylinder with positioning means for the intermediate elements which acts automatically to effect an equal spacing of the supporting elements when the distance between the end feeding elements is changed. This result I may accomplish by light compression springs, preferably though not necessarily surrounding the cylinder shaft, and located between the intermediate elements to undergo substantially equal degrees of compression or expansion when the end elements are moved toward or from each other.

It is a still further object of my present invention to permit one of the pattern sheet feeding elements to slide laterally along its supporting shaft to accommodate slight variations in the transverse distance between the marginal perforations of the pattern sheet. One of the driving cylinder elements will be fastened to the actuating shaft but the other cylinder element for the opposite side of the pattern sheet will be connected, as by a key sliding in a slot in the shaft, to permit movements along the shaft. In order that the pressure of the -springs between the previously described intermediate elements may not interfere with the floating operation of the loose cylinder driving element I secure that in:- termediate disk adjacent to the floating element to the shaft and thereby prevent the springs from exerting side pressure on the floating cylinder ele ment.

With these and other objects in view which will appearas the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodiment of my. invention is-set forth.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a dobby made according to my present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1, showing the cyl inder adapted for-feeding a wide'pattern sheet, Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections on line 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. :2,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a wide sheet pattern, 1

Fig. 6 is a View similar to a portion of Fig. 2, but showing the cylinder adapted for feeding a narrow sheet pattern, and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a part of a narrow sheet pattern. r Referring'to the drawing, the loom frame I0 supports a dobby D having front and back side plates II and I2, respectively, between which ex tends a pivot pin l3. A series of harness jacks M are mounted for pivotal motion on pin [3 and each jack has pivoted thereto a jack lever I5. Each lever l5 has upper and lower hooks l6 and M, respectively, the vertical position of which is determined bylong and short lifter wires l8 and i9, respectively. The dobby plates are provided with top and bottom slots 20 and 2|, respectively in which reciprocate top and bottom knives 22 and 23, respectively. In order that motion may be communicated t the knives the dobby is provided with a rocker shaft 25 on the rear end of which-is mounted a three armed lever 26 one arm of which receives oscillating motion from avertical rod 21 which extends downwardly for connection to a driving part, such as a crank not shown on the bottom shaft of the loom. The front part of shaft 25 has secured thereto a two-arm lever 28.- Links 30 suggested in Fig. 1 connect the two-arm lever 23 to the front ends of the top and bottom knives, while other rear links 3| connect the rear ends of said knives to the back lever.

The vertical position of the lifter wires 3 and I9 is determined by the pattern reading mechanism designated generally at R. For present purposes it may be stated that this mechanism includes a set of spring plungers 35 which are raised and lowered by mechanism not shown and may be located within an endless sheet pattern P. The plungers 35 register with their respective wires i8 and i9 and when the carriage R rises those plungers which are in register with perforated parts of the pattern sheet pass through the latter to lift their corresponding wires, while those plungers which register with unperforated portions of the pattern sheet are held depressed and the corresponding lifter Wires remain down.

The dobby operates in the usual manner, the rod 21 rising on one pick of the loom and descending on the next pick, so that two picks of the loom are required for a complete oscillation of the shaft 25. The pattern sheet P is advanced by a cylinder 38 appropriately driven to feed 1ongitudinally spaced pattern zones of the sheet successively to reading position between the plungers 35 and the wires l8 and I9. The carriage R rises when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 immediately prior to the start of a working stroke to the left of the bottom knife 23, see Fig. 1, and remains raised for somewhat more than a pick of the loom, or until after the top knife has started its working stroke. Harness frames not shown are connected to the jacks l4 and the latter are called pick after pick in an order determined by the sheet pattern P.

The matter thus far described may be of common construction and may be made according to my co-pending application Serial No. 402,080 to which further reference may be had for an understanding of the structure and operation of the mechanism thus far described.

The cylinder 38 which forms the subject matter of my present invention comprises a shaft 40 which rotates in front and back bearings 4| and 42 formed on the dobby plates II and I2, respectively. Feed mechanism not shown but set forth in the aforesaid application gives the shaft 40 step by step advance movements in a direction to feed the pattern sheet toward pattern reading position. The cylinder is so constructed that it can be adapted for use with pattern sheets of varying widths, such as a wide pattem sheet shown in Fig. 5, or a narrow sheet as set forth in Fig. 7.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, I have shown end cylinder elements 50 and 5| located, respectiveiy, at the front and back of the cylinder and each having in their peripheries feed pins 52 to register with feeding marginal perforations 53 on the pattern sheet, which in Fig. 5 is designated at 55. This pattern sheet is provided with perforations 56 and blank areas 51 and the perforations and blank areas are arranged in transverse pairs each of which comprises a zone to control the plungers 35.

The front'cylinder element 50 is secured to the shaft 40 by any convenient means such as a set screw 60, while the rear element 5| receives a key 6| mounted in a slot 62 on the shaft 40. The key and slot extend along the shaft for a distance considerably greater than the width of the rear element. The element 5| is not secured in fixed longitudinal position along the shaft and is therefore free to slide toward and from the front element. Both elements are therefore required to rotate with the shaft and their pins 52 are preferably aligned to enter corresponding perforations 53 on the opposite margins of the sheet pattern.

Located between the front and back pattern driving elements are cylinder members of the same diameter to engage and support the pattern sheet intermediate the marginal perforations so that the sheet may be fed uniformly to reading position. As shown in Fig. 2 there are three intermediate members 65 which are free to rotate around and slide along shaft 40. A fourth intermediate member 66 similar to the members 65 is mounted close to but spaced from the rear feeding element 5| by a set screw 67. Light compression springs 68 are located as indicated in Fig. 2 between the intermediate member and as these springs are all substantially the same length and strength they serve to position the cylinder members 65 at substantially equal intervals along the length of the cylinder.

When the cylinder has the setting shown in Fig. 2 it can cooperate with the wide pattern sheet 55 and any slight variations in the distance between perforations 53 measured transversely of the pattern sheet will cause a slight compensating sliding movement of the rear cylinder element 5| along the shaft 40. The rear intermediate member 65, being fastened to the shaft 40', prevents the pressure of the rear spring 68 from being exerted on the rear driving element 5| and the latter can therefore move toward or from the front of the dobby in response to slight variations in the width of the pattern sheet.

When it is desired to adjust the cylinder for use with a narrower pattern sheet, such as designated at T0 in Fig. 7, the rear intermediate member 66 is moved forwardly and is given a new setting on shaft 40 by the set screw 61. Forward motion of the member 65 causes a compression of all of the springs 58 with a consequent reduction of the distances between the slidable member 65. The new location of the rear intermediate member will depend upon the width of the new sheet pattern, and. it will be located slightly in advance of the normal position of the rear element 5|. When in this new position the various intermediate members will be equally spaced along the shaft 40 and will be able to direct the pattern sheet 10 properly to reading position. The marginal perforations 1| will receive pins 53 and the perforated and unperforated portions. 12 and 13 will be advanced toward the pattern reading plungers as the shaft 40 is given its step by step feeding motion. In order that the shaft 4 may be kept in proper position with respect to the wires l8 and I9, the front and back portions of said shaft may have secured thereto collars l5 abutting the outsides of the adjacent plates H and |2 to prevent endwise motion of the shaft.

It is believed that the operation of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. Movement of the rear member 66 along the shaft will be accompanied by an automatic and simultaneous adjustment of the front member 65 so that they will be uniformly spaced and thereby provide adequate support for the pattern sheet. While I have shown but two widths of pattern sheet it is to be understood that the invention can. be usedwith pattern sheets of any width ranging between the maximum'and'minimum widths for which the cylinder is built.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple means for adjusting the length of a paper pattern feeding cylinder to accommodate patterns of different widths. It will further be seen that the improved cylinder comprises end elements or disks which have driving engagement with the sides of the pattern sheet and also intermediate disks or members which support the pattern sheet at spaced points across its width. Also, it will be noted thatthe springs between the intermediate elements serve to space them equally and act to effect this spacing automatically when the distance between the end feeding disks is changed.

It will also be seen that one of the driving elements is mounted so that it can float longitudinally along the driving shaft to accommodate slight variations in the distance between the marginal rows of perforations. Furthermore, in

order to protect the floating disk from the force of the springs one of the intermediate guiding members is secured to the shaft so that it cannot be forced against the floating driving element.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a loom dobby having a frame and capable of operating with sheet patterns of different widths, a shaft rotatably mounted on the dobby frame, pattern driving elements mounted on and rotating with the shaft to have feeding relation with the sheet pattern, other pattern engaging elements between the driving elements and slidably mounted on the shaft to engage the sheet pattern at points intermediate the sides thereof, and resilient spring means between said other elements to hold the latter in spaced relation.

2. In a loom dobby having a frame and capable of operating with sheet patterns of different widths, a shaft rotatably mounted in the dobby frame, pattern driving disks mounted on and rotating with the shaft and capable of being located at different distances from each other along the shaft, sheet pattern supporting disks between the driving disks slidably mounted on the shaft, and resilient spring means between the said slidable disks to space the latter along the shaft.

3. In a loom dobby having a frame and capable of operating with sheet patterns of different widths, a shaft rotatably mounted on the dob-by frame, driving cylinder elements rotating with the shaft and capable of being located at different distances from each other along the shaft to accommodate pattern sheets of different widths, intermediate cylinder elements to support the sheet pattern and floating on the shaft between the first named cylinder elements, and resilient spring means between said intermediate elements to space the latter along said shaft.

4. In a loom dobby having a frame and capable of operating with sheet patterns of difierent widths, a shaft rotatably mounted on the dobby frame, end cylinder elements to have driving engagement with the edges of a paper pattern and capable of being located at different distances from each other along the shaft to have feeding relation .with sheet patterns of different widths, intermediate cylinder elements slidably mounted on the shaft between said end elements, and compression springs surrounding the shaft between the intermediate elements and said end elements to locate the intermediate cylinder elements in 'spaced relation along the shaft.

5. In a loom dobby having a frame and capable of cooperating with a plurality of paper patterns of different widths each of which has a marginal row of driving perforations along each edge thereof, a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, a pair of endpattern driving cylinder elements on said shaft, both of said elements rotating with the shaft and one of said elements fixed to the haft and the other element capable of longitudinal motion along the shaft, a plurality of intermediate cylinder elements .between said end elements mounted in spaced relation along the shaft to support the sheet pattern, means to secure the intermediate element adjacent to the slidable end element to said shaft, said second named element being slidable along the shaft in response to slight variations in the distance between said rows of perforations measured transversely of the sheet pattern, and spring means between said one end element and the intermediate element secured to the shaft and engaging the remainder of the intermediate elements to hold the latter in spaced relation along said shaft.

6. In a loom dobby having a frame and capable of cooperating with a plurality of sheet patterns of different widths each of which has a marginal row of driving perforations along the opposite edges thereof, a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, an end pattern driving cylinder element secured to the shaft to rotate therewith in a fixed plane along said shaft, a second pattern driving end cylinder element rotating with the shaft but slidable therealong, members on said elements to have driving relation with the rows of perforations adjacent thereto, intermediate cylinder elements located between said first and second elements at spaced intervals along the shaft to support the sheet pattern at a plurality of points between said end elements, and means to secure the intermediate element adjacent to the second element to the shaft in a position spaced from said second end element, whereby said second element is capable of sliding motion along the shaft in response to variations in the transverse distance between said rows of perforations without interference on the part of said intermediate elements.

7. In a loom dobby having a frame and capable of cooperating with a plurality of sheet patterns of different widths each of which has a marginal row of driving perforation along the opposite edges thereof, a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, an end pattern driving cylinder element secured to the shaft to rotate therewith in a fixed,

plane along said shaft, a second pattern driving end cylinder element rotating with the shaft but slidable therealong, members on said elements to have driving relation with the rows of perforations adjacent thereto, intermediate cylinder elements located between said'end elements at spaced intervals along the shaft to support the sheet pattern at a plurality of points between said end elements, means to secure the intermediate element adjacent to the second end element to the shaft in a position spaced from said second element,

whereby said second element is capable of sliding motion along the shaft in response to variations in the transverse distance between said rows of perforations without interference on the part of sa'i'd intermediate elements, and resilient means 'loeat'e'd between said intermediate elements to space the latter along the shaft.

8. A dobby pattern cylinder to drive asheet pattern having driving marginal perforations along the edges thereof, said cylinder comprising a shaft, a pair of end pattern driving elements on said shaft for cooperation with the "marginal perforations of the sheet pattern, intermediate cylinder elements on said shaft slid'abl'e therealon'g between the end elements to support the sheet pattern at points between the sides thereof, and resilient means between said intermediate elements to hold the latter in spaced relation.

ter in spaced relation along said shaft.

RICHARD G. TURNER. 

